US, Iran trade conflicting claims over control of Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran remain at odds over who controls the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies.

“The United States and regional partners clearly control the strait,” US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the region, said on X.

“Earlier today, a general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed in media reports that ‘the Strait of Hormuz is closed’ and his country has ‘full control over it.’ This is FALSE,” CENTCOM said.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint between the US and Iran since the war began in late February.

Iran has largely disrupted shipping through the strait, a crucial route for global oil, gas and fertilizer supplies, through threats and attacks on vessels. The US military has also attacked Iranian civilian vessels and imposed a naval blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.

The disruption to one of the world’s most important energy trade routes has driven up oil prices worldwide.

“Traffic is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz right now carrying commercial goods and energy supplies, including 20 million barrels of crude oil,” CENTCOM said.

Before the war, analysts estimated that nearly 19 million barrels of oil passed through the strait each day.

Experts have attributed the increase in energy shipments since late July partly to the expansion of a so-called shuttle fleet. These tankers, protected by the US navy, transport oil from loading terminals in the Gulf to waiting vessels outside the strait. However, attacks on ships in the waterway have continued to be reported in recent days.